International Business Travel: An Engine of Innovation?

While it is well known that managers prefer in-person meetings for negotiating deals and selling their products, face-to-face communication may be particularly important for the transfer of technology because technology is best explained and demonstrated in person. This paper studies the role of short-term cross-border labor movements for innovation by estimating the recent impact of U.S. business travel to foreign countries on their patenting rates. Business travel is shown to have a signi…cant e¤ect up and beyond technology transfer through the channels of international trade and foreign direct investment. On average, a 10% increase in business travel leads to an increase in patenting by about 0.2%, and inward business travel is about one fourth as potent for innovation as domestic R&D spending. We show that the technological knowledge of each business traveler matters by estimating a higher impact for travelers that originate in U.S. states with substantial innovation, such as California. This study provides initial evidence that international air travel may be an important channel through which cross-country income di¤erences can be reduced.

Colônia de férias PIBID educação física FURG 2013: uma experiência no contexto da docência

Trabalho apresentado no 31º SEURS - Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul, realizado em Florianópolis, SC, no período de 04 a 07 de agosto de 2013 - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.Este artigo vem abordar e refletir a respeito de alguns pontos sobre a I Colônia de Férias – PIBID/EF, desenvolvida pelo grupo de bolsistas vinculados ao Programa Institucional de Bolsa de Iniciação a Docência – PIBID. O objetivo desta colônia foi dar um enfoque na formação dos acadêmicos do grupo trazendo o foco para uma metodologia voltada para um público específico, em um contexto específico. A Colônia de Férias foi realizada no campus da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, sucedeu-se em 5 dias: 2 de formação, 2 de realização e 1 de avaliação. Participaram 35 crianças entre 8 á 14 anos. Esse evento nos proporcionou experiência em organização, planejamento e instrução de uma colônia de férias, bem como o entendimento de trabalho coletivo e a reflexão da prática docente

Utility and lower limits of frequency detection in surface electrode stimulation for somatosensory brain-computer interface in humans

Objective: Stimulation of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) has been successful in evoking artificial somatosensation in both humans and animals, but much is unknown about the optimal stimulation parameters needed to generate robust percepts of somatosensation. In this study, the authors investigated frequency as an adjustable stimulation parameter for artificial somatosensation in a closed-loop brain-computer interface (BCI) system. Methods: Three epilepsy patients with subdural mini-electrocorticography grids over the hand area of S1 were asked to compare the percepts elicited with different stimulation frequencies. Amplitude, pulse width, and duration were held constant across all trials. In each trial, subjects experienced 2 stimuli and reported which they thought was given at a higher stimulation frequency. Two paradigms were used: first, 50 versus 100 Hz to establish the utility of comparing frequencies, and then 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 Hz were pseudorandomly compared. Results: As the magnitude of the stimulation frequency was increased, subjects described percepts that were “more intense” or “faster.” Cumulatively, the participants achieved 98.0% accuracy when comparing stimulation at 50 and 100 Hz. In the second paradigm, the corresponding overall accuracy was 73.3%. If both tested frequencies were less than or equal to 10 Hz, accuracy was 41.7% and increased to 79.4% when one frequency was greater than 10 Hz (p = 0.01). When both stimulation frequencies were 20 Hz or less, accuracy was 40.7% compared with 91.7% when one frequency was greater than 20 Hz (p < 0.001). Accuracy was 85% in trials in which 50 Hz was the higher stimulation frequency. Therefore, the lower limit of detection occurred at 20 Hz, and accuracy decreased significantly when lower frequencies were tested. In trials testing 10 Hz versus 20 Hz, accuracy was 16.7% compared with 85.7% in trials testing 20 Hz versus 50 Hz (p < 0.05). Accuracy was greater than chance at frequency differences greater than or equal to 30 Hz. Conclusions: Frequencies greater than 20 Hz may be used as an adjustable parameter to elicit distinguishable percepts. These findings may be useful in informing the settings and the degrees of freedom achievable in future BCI systems

A Novel Method to Monitor Sequential Displacement of Capped Ligands in Gold Nanoparticles [abstract]

Nanoscience Poster SessionNanochemistry of ligand displacement reactions has attracted much attention in recent years for the development of myriad of new gold nanomaterials. Gold nanoparticles have shown applications ranging from tumor imaging agent in nanomedicine to single electron devices in information technology. New gold materials are synthesized by exchange of neutral or anionic ligands with thiolated molecules. Completion of ligand substitution reactions in gold nanoparticles are monitored by using UV-Vis spectrometry. However, there are no methods available to monitor the sequence of the ligand substitution reactions. Monitoring and predicting the sequence of ligand substitutions would provide a convenient handle for the design and development of hybrid nanomaterials containing two or more ligands. In this context, we have developed a novel technique utilizing disc centrifuge systems to monitor the sequential displacement of ligands in various gold nanoconstructs. In our studies, we have used gold nanoparticles stabilized with both anionic and neutral ligands. Gold nanoparticles of various different substitutions have been identified and characterized by disc centrifuge systems. Details of substitution reactions and mechanism on monitoring the sequential displacement using strong ligands will be presented

PGE2 Receptor Subsets Mediate HCG Regulation of the Plasminogen Activator/Plasmin System in Primate Periovulatory Follicles

Elevated follicular prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels are necessary for follicle rupture during ovulation. As the degradation of the follicle wall requires proteolysis, it was hypothesized that regulation of proteolysis by gonadotropins is PGE2 mediated. There are four PGE2 receptors: EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4. To determine which PGE2 receptors are present in monkey periovulatory follicles, granulosa cells and whole ovaries were collected 0, 12, 24, and 36 hours after administration of an ovulatory dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), or 36 hours after hCG from monkeys that received the prostaglandin (PG) synthesis inhibitor celecoxib. All EP receptor mRNAs were present in granulosa cells. By immunofluorescence, EP1 was detectable only 36 hours after hCG. EP2 and EP3 proteins were present throughout the periovulatory interval. By western blotting, EP2 and EP3 proteins increased between 0 and 36 hours after hCG. EP4 protein was not detected in periovulatory granulosa cells. An increase in EP2 and EP3 receptor responsiveness was confirmed by measuring elevated cAMP levels in response to receptor selective agonists. EP1 receptor function, measured as an increase in intracellular calcium, was present only 36 hours after hCG administration. To elucidate the role of the ovulatory gonadotropin surge and PGs in the regulation of periovulatory proteolytic events, the expression of mRNA and protein for the tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) and their inhibitor PAI-1 was measured in granulosa cells. uPA and PAI-1 mRNAs peaked 12 hours and 36 hours after hCG administration respectively. tPA mRNA decreased 36 hours after hCG. Celecoxib administration had no effect on any of these mRNAs. By immunofluorescence, tPA and PAI-1 protein expression increased 12 hours after hCG and persisted until 36 hours after hCG. tPA and PAI-1 proteins were not detectable 36 hours after hCG in celecoxib treated animals. uPA was not detectable in granulosa cells before and after hCG administration. By in situ zymography, plasminogen activator (PA) activity was low before hCG administration and detectable 12, 24 and 36 hours after hCG. PA activity was attenuated by pre-incubation with an anti-tPA antibody. Animals treated for 36 hours with hCG+celecoxib had low ovarian PA activity. To determine whether PGE2 is the key PG in the regulation of PA family members, 0 hour granulosa cells were hCG treated with or without PGE2 or EP receptor selective agonists. tPA protein increased only in the presence of PGE2, the EP2 agonist or the EP3 agonist. PAI-1 protein was detected in cells cultured with PGE2, the EP1 agonist or the EP3 agonist. These studies demonstrate that the ovulatory gonadotropin stimulates granulosa cell EP receptor expression and responsiveness. PGE2, acting through EP2 and EP3 receptors, may mediate the hCG induced increase in tPA proteolytic activity. Taken together, this study elucidates the mechanisms by which the ovulatory gonadotropin surge and PGE2 cooperate to regulate proteolysis in the periovulatory follicle. This information may lead to improved treatments for anovulation or to the development of new contraceptive options

Addressing the equity gap in California community colleges’ transfer pathways: a transfer center guide for supporting underrepresented student success

California Community Colleges (CCC) are integral in ensuring student enrollment, persistence, and subsequent higher education degree attainment. As one of the most affordable institutions of learning, community colleges symbolize access to various degree and certificate completion options, transfer opportunities, vocation and remedial education, as well as workforce training. However, a high percentage of students, especially from underrepresented backgrounds, systematically falls short of the set institutional guidelines and do not complete a degree or transfer within the expected timeframes. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the effective strategies utilized by CCC transfer center directors (TCDs) for supporting underrepresented student transfer efforts. Several dimensions of the transfer process were examined through an equity lens, including institutional and individual factors, as well as policy implications in the established transfer center functions. The interviews conducted with study participants revealed the challenges and opportunities associated with facilitating transfer efforts on-campus and revealed best practices for new practitioners coming into the field. Some of the main themes that emerge, such as lack of awareness regarding available resources, negative self-perception, and financial implications can act as perceived and real barriers in the pursuit of transfer success. Providing holistic support programs and comprehensive services in terms of transfer exploration and preparation can greatly mitigate these roadblocks, especially for underrepresented community college students

The passeist, modernist and futurist features of some social housing ensembles built during the transitional period of 1960-1970 (case of “Maurelette” in Marseille)

The history of architecture and urbanism is classically represented as a sequence of major movements and doctrines. However, the factual evolution does not have this kind of linear character. The well-known architectural “isms” are chained together with productions of the so called “transitional” periods, the legacy of which deserves special scientific interest. Thanks to its unique mix of previous and present tendencies, as well as techniques and compositional approaches these architectural layers form a base for the future movement. A significant number of this kind of interesting “in-between produce" in the field of social housing has been built during the 60th and the 70th. These ensembles were constructed between the periods of Modernism and Postmodernism, when the postulates of modernism (particularly the ones embodied in the social housing groups) were severely criticized for having poor urban and architectural design. Since the end of 1980 in many European countries, particularly in France, massive renovation processes started and continue to this day. Due to political, social and aesthetic changes, a great part of post-war residential heritage has been radically reconstructed or demolished. This process touches not only ordinary residential groups (so-called “grand ensembles”) realized right after the Second World War with very limited means and techniques, but also harms some of the interesting ensembles. Many of them are undervalued, not rehabilitated since their creation and are often doomed to disappear. The current paper is an attempt to analyze the historical, urban and morphological aspects of “Maurelette” residential complex, built in the northern suburbs of Marseilles during 1963-1965. The interpretation of the landscape, as well as the particularities of space organization, proportions and choice of materials in "Maurelette" complex demonstrates the ambition to create the “non-ordinary” ensemble by ordinary inexpensive constructive means and elements. As opposed to the great number of post-war primitive “cité” built on “tabula rasa” with no former architectural remains, the authors of “Maurelette” respectfully included the main elements (House of Maitre, the sycamore tree lane, etc.) in the new structure of the ancient bourgeois property and kept their important role. Here we can see the original interpretation of traditional “square”, “street” and “rampart”, that could be considered as early application of Postmodernist ideas of decontexutualisation and free “quotation” of historical urban forms. Thus, the “Maurelette” appears as a “cultural bridge” connecting the past, the present and the future. Fortunately, until the present day this ensemble remains almost intact, and in 2006, it has even received the "Heritage of the twentieth century" label, as “Maurelette Parque”. However, today its “survival” could be considered a rather extraordinary phenomenon than a usual case.This case study intends to raise awareness towards the heritage constructed between the major architectural movements (for example: Modernism and Postmodernism), as it represents an interesting architectural symbiosis, has hidden values and deserves to be included in the contemporary urban structure without negating or altering their authentic concept. Their existence will contribute to the continued, uninterrupted urban environment and thus, making the modern city more resilient

Restoration Trajectories in Forest Ecosystems with special reference to Ethiopian Forest

This review article is about Restoration Trajectories in Forest Ecosystems with special reference to Ethiopian Forest. Restoration attempts to return an ecosystem to its historic trajectory. It has time scale but interventions can accelerate the process. There is billions of land world-wide which could be dedicated for restoration. Ethiopian landscape has been degraded severely and concerted efforts are being made to reverse the degradation. Ethiopia made commitment to restore 22 million hectares during the UN Summit in September 2014. However, we need to understand the dynamics and factors influencing restoration and its process; otherwise we believe the existing church forests in the northern and central Ethiopia can serve as reference for restoration. Due to climate change, long time degradation and desertification effects achieving the pristine forest stage might not be possible. But at least creating similar forest community as that of the existing forests might be achievable. Experiences of Korea and Costa Rica can be cited as best practices. Keywords: Restoration, Forest, Ethiopia, church fores